Caster



Patented Sept. I3, I893.

No. 6l0,860.

S. GLUCK.

C A S T E R.

(Application filed July 81, 1897.)

(No Model.)

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SOLOMON GLUCK, OF TEMPLE, TEXAS.

CASTER. I

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent 0 610,860, dated September 13, 1898. Application fil d July 31,1397. $erial1l'o. 646,650. (No model.)

To (tZZ whmn it may concern:

Beit known that I, SOLOMON GLUOK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Temple, in the county of Bell and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Caster, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in casters.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of casters and to provide a simple, inexpensive, and efficient one which will be strong and durable and which will be adapted to be readily applied to light and heavy furniture.

A further object of the invention is to provide a caster in which the roller may, when desired, be locked against rotation to hold a piece of furniture or similar article stationary.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a caster constructed in accordance with this invention, the bearing-cup being removed. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view showing the caster applied to a leg of a piece of furniture. Fig. 3 is a reverse plan view illustrating the manner of locking the roller against rotation. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective View of the bearing cup or socket. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view illustrating a modification of the invention. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the caster-frame.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawlngs.

1 designates a caster-frame of the ordinary configuration having a roller 2 journaled between its arms and provided with a vertical opening 3 for the reception of a shank or pivot 4. The shank or pivot 4: is provided at its upper end with a head 5 and is sufficiently longer than the thickness of the frame 1 to have a limited vertical movement. The head 5 of the pivot or shank t engages a flanged bearing cup or socket 6, which is provided at one side with an opening 7 for the introduction of the head 5, and after the head is introduced into the bearing socket or cup 6 it is retained therein by an annular bearing-shoulder 8 of the frame 1. The flange 9 of the socket or cup extends inward and -con tracts the opening, forming an annular groove on the interior of the socket or cup to receive the circular head of the pivot or shank 4. The annular shoulder 8, which is arranged around the opening 3 of the frame 011 the upper face of the latter, is engaged with. the opening of the socket or cup after the head 5 has been introduced therein, the longitudinal movement of the shank or pivot 4 permitting the shoulder to be moved upward into the socket or cup. The opening in the annular flange 9 for the passage of the shank or pivot is of less diameter than the annular shoulder, so that the pivot is firmly retained in the bearing cup or socket when the latter is engaged by the annular shoulder.

The bearing socket or cup, which may be of any desired configuration, is provided with a central perforation 10 and bears directly against the frame 1, thereby relieving the shank or pivot of strain. The central perforation is adapted for the reception of a screw or other suitable fastening device for securing the socket or cup to a piece of furniture, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings; but more perforations may be provided or any other suitable means may be employed for attaching the bearing socket or cup to the article to which the caster is to be applied.

In order to lock the roller against rotation when it is desired to maintain a piece of furniture or similar object stationary, a camlever 11 is employed and is fulcrumed on the lower end of the shank or pivot. The camlever is provided at its head with a perforation for the reception of the pivot or shank, and it is adapted to be turned-into engagement with the roller, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 8 of the accompanying drawings.

In Fig. 5 of the accompanying drawings is illustrated a modification of the invention, in which a coiled spring 12 is disposed on the lower end of the shank or pivot to hold the head of the same in engagement with the bearing cup or socket by maintaining the annular shoulder therein. The coiledspring is interposed between the bottom of the frame and a suitable shoulder of the lower end of the shank or pivot.

The invention has the following advantages: The caster is simple and comparatively inexpensive in construction, and it is adapted to be readily applied to a piece of furniture.

As the shoulder of the caster-frame bears directly against and is journaled on the socket or cup, thecaster is capable of withstanding heavy strains and is thereby adapted for use on heavy articles of furniture. The camlever is capable of locking the roller against rotation, so that an article of furniture may be maintained stationary when desired.

Changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to .Without departing from the spirit or sacrificframe, provided with a head and capable of a limited vertical movement independent of the caster-frame to carry its head to and from the bearing-shoulder, and a bearing-bracket adapted to be secured to a piece of furniture, provided at its bottom with an opening to receive the annular shoulder and having a side opening to permit the shank or pivot and its head to be introduced into the socket, the head of the shank or pivot being of greater diameter than the opening at the bottom of the socket, said annular shoulder being adapted to be interlocked With the opening at the bottom of the socket after the shank or pivot has been arranged therein, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. A caster comprising a socket provided at one side with an opening and having an inwardly-extending flange forming an interior groove, a caster-frame provided with an annular shoulder adapted to fit in the socket, and a shank or pivot mounted on the casterframe and provided with a head adapted to be introduced into the socket through the side opening thereof, said shank or pivot being capable of a limited longitudinal movement to permit the annular shoulder to fit into the socket after the head has been placed therein, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. A caster provided with a cam-lever mounted on it beneath the frame and engaging the periphery of the roller to lock the latter against rotation, said lever being pivoted and adapted to be swung out of engagement with the roller to permit the latter to revolve freely, substantially as described.

4. A caster comprising a frame, a roller j ournaled on the frame, a shank or pivot having a portion depending from the frame adj acent to the roller,and a ca m-lever fulcrumed on the depending portion of the pivot or shank and arranged to engage and lock the roller against rotation, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

SOLOMON GLUCK.

Witnesses:

A. L. CURTIS, O. W. STURDEVANT. 

